Wilderness, South Africa

Wilderness is a seaside town on the Garden Route of the southern Cape in South Africa. It is situated a short distance to the east from the city of George, on the N2 down the Kaaiman's River Pass.

Wilderness Wildernis
The town of Wilderness from the Kaaiman's River Pass incline
Wilderness Show map of Western Cape Wilderness Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 33°59′S 22°35′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Garden Route
Municipality	George
Area [1]
• Total	36.97 km2 (14.27 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	6,164
• Density	170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	12.0%
• Coloured	47.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.6%
• White	38.5%
• Other	1.8%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	68.5%
• English	23.7%
• Xhosa	4.9%
• Other	2.9%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	6560
PO box	6560

The area around Wilderness has yielded significant palaeoclimatological data on the prehistoric climate of South Africa. Sediment core data from the nearby coastal lake Eilandvlei indicate higher aridity relative to the present day during the intervals spanning ~8,900-7,900 years BP and ~6,400-3,000 years BP, whereas the interval from 7,900 to 6,400 years BP was relatively moist and similar to the present day.

Wilderness is well-known for being the death place of former South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Aerial view of the Touw River & the N2
• 
  Wilderness Beach